Inspired by Luis Buuel's Los Olvidados, Mexican writer-director Leopoldo Laborde's haunting, engrossing film shows Mexico City at its darkest. Fifteen-year-old Frank (Francisco Rey) sells his body to men to survive, but st... more &raquoill can't afford his own drug habit. His best friend (and dealer) David (David Valdez) helps him out with "loans" and offers advice on how to bed a woman, something the young gay hustler knows nothing about. Frank's obsession with the pretty blonde Angelica (Mariana Gaja) blossoms, but when an older man from Frank's past (Roberto Cobo, Los Olividados, A Place Without Limits) turns up again, the young boy becomes even more sexually confused.&laquo less

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Movie Reviews

A worthwhile experience

Finding the Interesting | 02/25/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This movie takes a hard and believable look at the desperate life of the poor youth in a megacity environment. The acting is stunning - especially the lead Francisco Rey, and the cinemetograhy stark and real. This brings to life the story of what youth do to survive and the corresponding story of the people who prey on them. Worth seeing and probably more real and common than most of us will ever see first-hand. It is a hard story, yet never loses the glimmer of optimism and hope that keeps people going. All the characters are brought to life as real and complete humans.

Be sure to check out the "deleted scenes" and the "directors commentary" especially regarding the deceased film star Roberto Cobo and why he had to turn down the invitation to Cannes.

PPS This movie is not at all a gay movie. That characterization is misleading."

A Gritty Drama from an Innovative Mexican Director

Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 03/09/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Mexican writer/director Leopoldo Laborde has made a number of low budget, challenging, controversial films, using his cadre of nonprofessional actors and crew and he is gathering a following for his courage and his unique style. SIN DESTINO is a good introduction to his work - a film about the seamy side of Mexico City's life told with verismo style that at times is difficult to watch but yet one that succeeds in conveying his story well.

Using a combination of black and white with intervals of color photography, SIN DESTINO follows the life of a fifteen-year old Francisco/Frank (Francisco Rey) who has been a sex worker since his desperate introduction to the desires of older men when he was nine years old. He regularly engages in same sex activity for money to pay for a drug habit that is out of control. His friend and dealer is the understanding David (David Valdez) who 'loans' Frank money and coke when Frank is desperate, but also feels the need to get Frank out of the sex market by introducing him to women: David believes that once Frank has sex with a woman he will forego his street ways and have a chance at life. Frank happens to view a blonde girl Angelica (Mariana Gaja) and for the first time feels attraction to women. David sets Frank up with a kind-hearted prostitute Perla (Sylvia Vilchis) who offers Frank understanding and tenderness even though Frank is unable to perform. Frank has disturbing dreams and visions of his initial initiation into the male hustler life by an older child pornographer Sebastian (Roberto Cobo) and these intensely ugly memories are mixed with his delusions of sexual encounters with Angelica: these scenes appear in color and make a fine contrast in the 'magical realism' vein.

David encourages Frank to bed Angelica and sells him (through money he will retrieve from an incidental reunion with Sebastian) a love potion that will assure his sexual success with Angelica. Frank visits Sebastian after a six-year absence, obtains the money through violent means, and has his desired hook up with Angelica that results in a cruel tragedy that completes the film. David remains at Frank's side through the sequelae that follow and the film ends on a dark note that all but extinguishes Frank's hope for a favorable destiny.

Laborde knows what he wants and opts for a crude, rough, seemingly spontaneous non-rehearsed style of acting from his crew. He is able to draw from Francisco Rey an empathetic character, a lad who is stuck in the quagmire of the slim that faces the poor kids of the big city. Laborde is even able to make his 'evil johns' such as Sebastian more than simply dark caricatures. His cinematographer Jorge Rubio Casarín is at all times in sync with Laborde's vision, even though the camera use is inordinately distracting with its play of light and dark at times. It is only after the film is over that Laborde's use of the fate, death and love potion motifs from Wagner's 'Tristan und Isolde' are appreciated, and that is an example of how much energy the writer/director has in his visions, a trait that suggests he may become a significant force in Mexican filmmaking. The film contains considerable violence, nudity, simulated sex scenes, drug use and harsh language, but one cannot imagine this story being told without those elements. In Spanish with English subtitles. Grady Harp, March 06

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A great movie about children of the streets

O. C. Murrieta | Xalapa, VER., MEX. | 01/09/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a movie about children from the streets. This movie hasn't great production resourses, but it has a good argument.

It's a touching movie, it has strong scenes not for people under 16, also it has sexual content and may be offensive for some people who use to deny the reality.

"This is a well done low-budget tribute to the great Luis Bunuel.. It is a sad movie of a boy who does not have many choices.. He is used and abused and he is addicted to a way of life that does harm to himself.. This is one of the saddest movies you will ever see as it evokes a harsh reality of life on the streets.. It is filmed in gorgeous black and white and the camera is has an unshakeable gaze."

Very real movie

M. Kline | San Diego CA | 05/14/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I live in Mexico and I've been to Mexico City. This movie is the real deal, it holds nothing back about that side of life. The actors are beautiful & talented. I loved it."